Monday | March 9, 2015
OPTIONAL WORKSHOPS (You can sign up for these optional workshops once you’ve registered for the conference!)
→ Workshops A & B run simultaneously from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
WORKSHOP A: Capitalizing on Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is no longer just an online avenue to raise a few dollars as seed money for your next project, it’s become so much more. Find out ways to utilize crowdfunding for market research; to build a fanbase; for marketing and promotions; and as a benchmark for investors. This workshop will dive into these concepts, real examples, and insights as to what works and doesn’t while you launch your own crowdfunding campaign.
WORKSHOP LEADERS: Timon Birkhofer, Co-Founder and Producer, Father & Sun
Richard Botto, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Stage 32
Brian Fargo, Chief Executive Officer, inXile Entertainment
Alon Goren, Founder and CEO, Invested.in
Rebecca Lando, Director, Film and Digital, Indiegogo
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
WORKSHOP B: Navigating and Monetizing Production Incentives
As global competition for production dollars increases, governments will continue to utilize entertainment as a way to attract businesses to their regions. And with the globalization of the entertainment business comes a more complex financial backdrop in which to do business. The good news is with more competition comes more opportunities for soft monies. The challenge becomes that doing business across borders can carry with it significant tax consequences and a more complicated set of rules associated with foreign investments. Through this workshop, attendees will gain insight into the best incentives to capitalize on in 2015-2016, considerations for creative impact when selecting incentives to work with, a deeper understanding of the potential tax implications when financing a project with soft monies, and tools to navigate within this global marketplace.
WORKSHOP LEADERS: Cindy Kirven, Chief Operating Officer, Endgame Entertainment
Joseph Chianese, Executive Vice President, EP Financial Solutions, Entertainment Partners
Paul Audley, President, FilmLA, Inc.
→ Workshops C & D run simultaneously from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
1:00 – 4:00 pm
WORKSHOP C: Fundamentals of Film Finance
A hands-on bootcamp providing a practical overview of independent film financing and “greenlight” analysis, including detailed discussions on:
– Economics of a film project: Overview of funding sources; Overview of revenue sources; Foreign Sales Statements; Ultimate Statements; and Participation Statements
– Waterfall structures: Capital structure; Expenses and “off-the-tops”; Residuals; Debt costs; Equity preferred returns; Breakeven and adjusted breakeven; Gross participations; and Net Participations
– Modeling a film project: Foreign presales and tax subsidies; Calculating senior borrowing capacity; Calculating gap borrowing capacity; Selecting comparable films; Projecting domestic ultimates; Projecting foreign overages; Modeling the waterfall; and Multiple scenarios
NOTE: Laptops with Microsoft Excel 2010+ highly recommended as template models will be provided.
WORKSHOP LEADERS: Rob Ogden, Principal, One Media
Ross Fremer, Executive, Project Finance and Business Development, Cinetic Media
1:00 – 4:00 pm
WORKSHOP D: TV Finance 101
Where is TV today, what is it defined as and where do you fit in as an investor? This workshop will break down how the television business works, both traditionally and digitally and address the following:
– Network and independent perspectives on the creative process
– The differences between scripted and unscripted projects
– Syndication: Traditional vs. Over the Top (OTT)
– Domestic and international distribution
– In what ways the independent film model is working for TV producers
WORKSHOP LEADER: Gary Pearl, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aquarius Television
WORKSHOP PANELISTS: David Acosta, Senior Vice President & Team Leader, Entertainment Division, City National Bank
Eli Shibley, Senior Vice President International Media and Formats, Electus
Kim Rozenfeld, Executive Vice President, U.S. Scripted Programming, Sony Pictures Television
Karen North, Ph.D, Professor and Director, Annenberg Program on Online Communities, USC
4:00 pm
Workshops Conclude